For the past 15 years, Mons Messaoud has been working at Hortica, but from 1 August he will take over the business permanently from his father, Ben. "I want to continue on the same footing. It would be weird if we suddenly started selling oranges. I already get requests for other products like strawberries and pumpkins, but I want to focus on the existing lines first and look further from there," says the new owner. That the new generation does bring a breath of fresh air is evident from, among other things, the first website introduced in 34 years.
"Our focus is on doing what we say, and I attach great importance to visiting our growers and customers. Personal contact is paramount. After all, we work with people and if we all enjoy what we do, the rest follows naturally. Thanks to our many years of working with growers at home and abroad, we feel comfortable supplying wholesalers, distributors and industry in Europe with organic and conventional vegetables. We prefer to work on a contract basis so that all parties know where they stand."
Good beet year
Red beets, celeriac, onions and carrots are among the core of Hortica's storage range. "Early beet cultivation has been delayed. Normally we start at the end of July, now I understand from our grower that it is more likely to be mid-August. Fortunately, his storage beets are looking nice. In fact, that is not true for everyone," Mons says. "For the celeriac, it is still difficult to assess how the new season will go. We have not had an easy growing season, but for now the crop looks good. We are now selling the last old tubers. We have had a good season, similar to last year, but with higher prices."
Mons is quite confident about the takeover. "It's not easy, because it's becoming a small world and farmers are increasingly finding their way to customers. Still, I definitely believe that our type of business has a right to exist. After all, we take problems away from the farmer, and the last thing the farmer wants is trouble. He should just be able to worry about his product and not have to worry about sales. So I am very much looking forward to running the business independently, where I am proud that today I still get to work with growers and customers that Ben started with in 1990."
For more information:
Mons Messaoud
Hortica
Kaap Hoorndreef 66
3563 AW Utrecht
Tel: +31 228 591 222
Mob: +31 6 12 44 36 39
[email protected]
New website: www.hortica.nl